SafePlants

Soot Lichen: A Comprehensive Overview

Soot lichens, belonging to the genus Cyphelium, are a fascinating group of lichenized fungi known for their association with sooty environments and their role as indicators of air pollution.

Considerations for Pets

While the text doesn't directly address toxicity, it's important to note that lichens, in general, can grow on various surfaces, including wood. The potential for a pet to ingest wood with lichen growth, and the lichen itself, should be considered.

Considerations for Children

The text mentions that some soot lichens are very small, requiring a magnifying glass to see them. This small size may be worth noting as a possible choking hazard for small children if found loose in accessible areas.

Scientific Name and Common Names

• Scientific Name: Cyphelium (Various species)
• Common Name: Soot Lichen (Used for multiple species)
• Other Common Names: Yellow Soot Lichen, Cupped Soot Lichen, Sooty-knobbed Lichen, Notaris' Soot Lichen

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Kingdom: Fungi
• Phylum: Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
• Family: Caliciaceae
• Synonyms: Cyphelium inquinans (Sm.) Trevis. is mentioned as a general synonym.
• Subordinate Taxa: The text mentions several species within the Cyphelium genus, including:
  • Cyphelium brunneum W. A. Weber
  • Cyphelium chloroconium
  • Cyphelium inquinans (Sm.) Trevisan
  • Cyphelium karelicum
  • Cyphelium lucidum
  • Cyphelium notarisii (Tul.) Blomb. & Forssell
  • Cyphelium pinicola
  • Cyphelium tigillare

Distribution and Habitat

• Soot lichens are found in Europe and North America.
• They typically grow on wood, particularly in areas affected by smoke and soot deposits.
• Specific locations mentioned include North Shore, Lake Superior, Ontario, Canada, and Idaho.
• The text also mentions a "broken circumboreal" distribution for at least one species, suggesting a patchy distribution around the northern parts of the globe.

Ecological Role

• Soot lichens are natural indicators of air pollution due to their sensitivity to pollutants.
• The presence or absence of certain lichen species, and even their color, can reflect the level of air quality in a particular area. For example, soot can kill pollution-sensitive lichens, such as the silvery lichen, turning tree trunks black.

Morphological Characteristics

• The fruiting bodies of soot lichens are small and disc-shaped, resembling cup-fungi.
• They are typically solitary and black, though some species, like the Yellow Soot Lichen (Cyphelium tigillare, Cyphelium lucidum, Cyphelium pinicola), have yellow areoles (small areas of the thallus).
• Some species are crustose, meaning they form a crust-like growth on their substrate.
• Some species possess black apothecia (fruiting bodies) immersed in the thallus.

Quirky Facts

• The color of lichens growing on trees can impact the survival of peppered moths. When the trees are free of soot and covered in pale lichens, paler moths are better camouflaged.
• The text references "Darwin's fungus" (Cyttaria darwinii) to illustrate the soot lichen's fruiting body.
• One species of soot lichen, *Cyphelium pinicola*, is described as growing on the wood of a somewhat charred pine stump.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The text notes that soot can kill lichens, thus affecting other organisms that depend on them.